Waking up to itchy bites and realizing you’ve shared your bed with bedbugs can be a frustrating experience for any traveler. Despite your best efforts to avoid them, these pesky creatures can find their way into your luggage. If this happens, don’t panic—while bedbugs are a nuisance, they are not dangerous and don’t transmit diseases. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to deal with bedbugs during your travels and make sure you leave them behind.
1. Stay Calm
It’s natural to feel a bit panicked when you first discover you’ve been bitten by bedbugs, but it’s important to stay calm. Stressing out will only add to your frustration. Remember, bedbugs won’t make you sick, and they’re relatively easy to get rid of if you act quickly and systematically.
2. Buy a New Outfit
First things first, you’ll need to cancel any plans for the day and head out to buy a basic, inexpensive outfit. While the rest of your clothing gets washed and treated, you’ll need something comfortable and affordable to wear. Bedbugs don’t live on your skin or hair; instead, they hitch a ride in your clothes and luggage. You’ll need to wash everything you brought on your trip, including shoes, backpacks, and toiletries.
3. Wash All Your Clothes
Once you have your new clothes, pack everything you suspect could be infested into sealed plastic bags. Head to a laundromat and wash these items on the highest heat setting that won’t damage them. Bedbugs are sensitive to heat, and washing your clothes in hot water is an effective way to kill them. Make sure to wash everything, even the items you didn’t wear, as the bedbugs could be hiding in your luggage or accessories.
Pro Tip: When placing your clothes in the washing machine, ensure everything is packed tightly inside the drum to prevent any bugs from escaping. Also, handle the contaminated items carefully—pull up your sleeves to avoid touching them directly, and dispose of the trash bags outside as soon as possible.
4. Use the Dryer
After washing your clothes, transfer them to the dryer and run it on the highest heat setting. This will ensure any remaining bedbugs or eggs are destroyed. Once your clothes are dry, place them in fresh plastic bags to prevent reinfestation. Avoid touching your freshly cleaned clothes until they’re safely in the bags.
5. Disinfect Items You Can’t Wash
Next, tackle anything that can’t be washed, such as electronics, chargers, or toiletries. Use rubbing alcohol (the highest grade available) and a spray bottle to disinfect these items. Bedbugs can hide in tiny cracks, so make sure to clean every nook and cranny of your belongings, including your suitcase.
6. Dispose of or Seal Non-Essential Items
Unfortunately, bedbugs can infest almost anything, from books to maps. If it’s not essential and can’t be washed or disinfected, it’s best to dispose of it. Items like money and passports can be sealed in freezer bags until you need them. If you’re unsure whether an item can be salvaged, err on the side of caution and throw it away.
7. Consider Throwing Everything Away
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the cleaning process or simply want to avoid the risk of bringing bedbugs to your next destination, discarding everything could be the simplest solution. While it might be costly, it guarantees that you won’t take the infestation with you. This may seem extreme, but it’s a surefire way to avoid the hassle of trying to clean every item.
8. Move to New Accommodation
Once your belongings are clean, it’s time to move out of your current accommodation. Even if your hotel offers you another room, it’s best to find a completely new place to stay. There’s no way to know how widespread the infestation is in the building, so moving to a different location is the safest option. If it’s possible, you might need to pay a little more, but the risk of re-infestation is too high to ignore.
9. Check if Bedbugs Are Covered by Travel Insurance
While bedbug infestations are generally not covered by travel insurance, it’s still worth checking your policy. Most insurance providers do not compensate for the damages caused by bedbugs, but it’s always a good idea to ask if your situation qualifies for any assistance.
Conclusion
Dealing with bedbugs while traveling can be stressful, but with the right steps, you can eliminate them and continue your trip without further issues. Stay calm, wash everything thoroughly, disinfect your non-washable items, and consider moving to a new accommodation. By taking these simple actions, you’ll rid yourself of the pests and keep your travels on track.
